The National Hockey League will not be the same again after "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe passed away on June 10, Friday, at the age of 88. The details of his death remain uncertain, but it has been known over the years that he suffered from dementia and had two strokes in 2014.
The hockey legend died with his family at his bedside in Ohio. Since Howe's death has been confirmed, tributes and sympathy flooded the social media sites, including ones from his fellow NHL players and those who admire him.
Howe's death came only a week after the passing of another sports icon, Muhammad Ali. "The Greatest" boxer died last week and was buried on June 10, Friday.
Howe's hockey career spanned six decades that made him one of the greatest hockey players of all time. His iconic rugged and stylish hockey styles were known to everyone. Howe was a significant part of the Detroit Red Wings, where he played during the peak of his career.
"Mr. Hockey" was a four-time Stanley Cup champion and won the NHL's scoring title for six times. He was also an MVP honor six times and 23-time All-Star, a credit that noone in the history has ever made, The Guardian reported.
Howe became part of the NHL's Red Wings in 1946 and led the team to Stanley Cup championship four times. He was with the team for 25 seasons before he retired in 1971. In 1972, he was honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame and in 1973, he came back to playing hockey again.
Meanwhile, in the midst of Howe's death, the Canadian hockey player has also been controversial after his family revealed that he was a rare stem cell treatment recipient. After suffering from two strokes in 2014, he started a treatment that reportedly made significant changes to his health, according to TIME.
Doctors from Stemedica reportedly injected up to 100 million neural stem cells into his spinal column to help his brain recover after a stroke. The stem cells helped Howe move that he was able to do things such as walking alone, shopping and even fishing after the medical procedure.
Watch the official tribute of Red Wings for "Mr. Hockey"